December 31, 1998
To:Works and Utilities Committee
From:Barry Gutteridge
Commissioner of Works and Emergency Services
Subject:Distribution of Items at Environment Days
Purpose:
The purpose of this report is to respond to the Council request for a further report on the
distribution of items at Environment Days.
Funding Sources, Financial Implications and Impact Statement:
Free distribution of blue boxes, grey boxes, water efficiency kits and peak pails at
Environment Days would result in an estimated operating budget increase of $150,000.00 per
year.
Recommendation:
It is recommended that this report be received for information.
Council Reference/Background/History:
City Council on November 25, 26 and 27, 1998 amended Clause No. 1 of Report No. 10 of
the Works and Utilities Committee by striking out and referring Recommendation No. (2) of
the Committee to the Commissioner of Works and Emergency for a report to the Committee
on a revised distribution program.
Recommendation No. (2) of the Committee read as follows:
"(2)that the following recommendation be added thereto:
(4)should Councillors wish to distribute blue boxes, grey boxes, water kits, peak pails or
composters free of charge at the Environment Days, they agree to reimburse the Department
from their office budget for the price that would have been charged to residents for the units."
Discussion and Justification:
The recommendation to have Councillors reimburse the Department for items given away free
at Environment Days was intended to harmonize the practices of the former municipalities
with respect to distribution of items at public events. For example, Councillors of the former
City of Toronto used to distribute blue and grey boxes and water efficiency kits for free at
their events, whereas Councillors of the former Metro Toronto would charge $5.00 for blue
and grey boxes and $20.00 for water efficiency kits (approximately the wholesale cost of the
units). Composter units are generally sold for the subsidized cost of $15.00 per unit.
This recommendation is also consistent with the Solid Waste Management Service Level
Harmonization report which recommended that residents be charged $5.00 for replacement
blue and grey boxes.
The alternative would be to have Councillors give away blue boxes, grey boxes, water
efficiency kits and peak pails for free at their 1999 Environment Days.
Based on an estimate that the number of units distributed would increase by a factor of 10, an
additional $150,000.00 would need to be budgeted by the Department to accommodate free
distribution.
The advantage of free distribution is that it provides a direct incentive to residents to recycle
waste and conserve water.
The disadvantages are as follows:
- Some residents may obtain extra units for other uses or for sale to others.
- Inventory would be difficult to control since there would be no sales records.
- The Department budget would have to be increased by approximately $150,000.00 per
year.
Conclusions:
Free distribution of grey boxes, blue boxes, water efficiency kits and peak pails at
Environment Days has not been recommended due to concerns about misuse of free units,
inventory control problems and increased cost.
Contact Names:
Andrew Pollock
Director - SWM Policy and Planning
Solid Waste Management Services
Works and Emergency Services
Phone: 392-4715
Fax: 392-4754
E-mail: andy_pollock@metrodesk.metrotor.on.ca
Angelos BacopoulosBarry H. Gutteridge
General ManagerCommissioner
Solid Waste Management ServicesWorks & Emergency Services
CAP/ag/swm - Dis_EnvD
